Taunton Population 2023
The population of Taunton is 60,479. This data is from the 2011 census, and will be updated after the 2021 census results are published.
It is the third largest town in Somerset, after Bath and Weston-Super-Mare.
Taunton population growth
There have been settlements in the Taunton area since at least Roman times. The town was given its charter in 904 AD.
By the time the Domesday Book was published in 1086 the population of Taunton was around 1,500 people. [https://localhistories.org/a-history-of-taunton]
Census data for the wider Taunton Deane area, which includes Wellington, another nearby town, is listed below:
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1801 | 33,139 |
| 1851 | 51,844 |
| 1901 | 53,759 |
| 1911 | 55,666 |
| 1921 | 56,161 |
| 1931 | 56,661 |
| 1941 | 62,745 |
| 1951 | 69,492 |
| 1961 | 75,320 |
| 1971 | 81,639 |
| 1981 | 84,795 |
| 1991 | 95,791 |
| 2001 | 102,304 |
| 2011 | 110,546 |
Taunton demographics
The table below shows ethnicity data for the Somerset West and Taunton District and is from the 2011 census.
| Ethnic Group | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White | 98% |
| Non-White | 2% |
The table below shows data on religion for the same period:
| Religion | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Christian | 62% |
| No religion | 28% |
| Religion not stated | 8% |
| All other | 2% |
Overall this data shows that Taunton and its surrounding regions are considerably less diverse in terms of ethnicity and religion than the country as a whole.
Where is Taunton located
Taunton is located in Somerset and sits on the banks of the River Tone. Major towns nearby are Bridgwater, Yeovil, Weston-Super-Mare and Bath. Taunton is on the M5 motorway, roughly mid-way between the cities of Bristol and Exeter.
Taunton is also the county town of Somerset, and its administrative centre. It is also the administrative centre for the Somerset West and Taunton local government district, which was established in 2019 after the merger ofTaunton Deane and West Somerset local councils.
In 1685 the Duke of Monmouth crowned himself King of England in Taunton, shortly before his comprehensive defeat at the Battle of Sedgemoor.
More recently, Taunton is known as the home of Somerset County Cricket Club, 40 Commando from the Royal Marines, Musgrove Park Hospital and the UK Hydrographic Office.
Sources and further reading
Unless otherwise noted, data is from the Office of National Statistics.